HARKiNiiTos] CHILDREN'S STORIES 349 



come in. As they stood around there they finally put their packs 

 on their backs and went toward the east. But whatever became of 

 them or where they went to, nobody knew. 



From that time on, it being spring, the Picuris people planted, 

 and food was plentiful. Thenceforth they lived nicely. So this 

 is the reason that the people at Picuris still plant and dwell, subsisting 

 as well as they can. 



You have a tail. 



The Two Dove Maiden Sisters and the Drouth 



Once upon a time there lived two little Doves at the Pueblo of 

 Picuris. Some of the Picuris youths at the Pueblo made their 

 living by going out hunting every day to the mountains, and returned 

 in the evening packing deer. And the two little Doves did nothing 

 but plant every year. They lived, planting corn and beans of 

 various colors in the spring, eating well and not thinking of hunting 

 as the youths of Picuris did. They were seen every day early 

 before simrise m their fields where their crops were, having their 

 hoes with them, singing. 



One year they planted much corn and beans, but as the year was 

 dry and there was no rain, their crops were drying up and they did 

 not know what to do. Sometimes they would sit in the shade of a 

 Cottonwood tree all day, and the Picuris youths would look at them 

 and would say to them: "These two little Doves are doing nothing 

 but stay in the shade while their crops are drying up." 



As the two little Doves did not like to have the Picuris youths 

 talk to them thus, one day one of the Doves said: "I believe we 

 will call the Buzzard; perhaps he can call the rain for us." Then 

 they called the Buzzard. In n little while the Buzzard came to 

 them. The Buzzard said to them: "Little ones, why do you bother 

 me whUe I am having such a good time out in the heat?" Then 

 the little Doves said: "We have called you, thinking you might 

 be able to summon the ram for us, for our poor crops are drying up, 

 and the Picuris youths tell us that we do nothing but just sit in 

 the shade." Then the Buzzard said to them: "I do not like the 

 rain, for the Sun is my father, so that is why I am going to take part 

 on his side." As the Buzzard said thus, he flew away. "That old 

 bald-headed Buzzard, let him go," said the two little Doves. 



"Now we will call the Crow." So then they called the Crow. 

 In a little while the Crow came to them. "Why, little ones, do 

 you disturb me here from the mountains where I have been sitting 

 in the shade so nicely?" said the Crow to them. The two little 

 Doves said: "We have called you, thinking that you might be able 

 to summon the rain for us, for our crops are drying up. And the 

 Picuris youths are saying to us, because we sit in the shade, that 



